The great hall was perhaps one of Hermione Granger's favorite things in the whole of Hogwarts Castle. She loved the vastness of the room, the way that all students seemed to be comfortable eating, dining and talking there, but most of all she loved how the whole hall seemed to stretch into the night sky. Even though she knew this was on account of a simple charm that made the ceiling reflect the sky outside at all hours of the day (she had read this in Hogwarts: A History of course), it still fascinated her. The hall looked particularly spectacular tonight as large amounts of candles had been charmed to float mid air above the four large house tables. Hermione sucked her breath in with pride as she sat amongst her fellow Gryffindors. She had been elected head girl of all of this. She turned her head and looked around at the other tables. Hannah Abbot, a friendly Hufflepuff girl Hermione had known since first year smiled and waved at her as the new first years walked in.
As the sorting ceremony continued Hermione found herself being constantly drawn to the Slytherin table. Usually, or at least for the past six years, Draco Malfoy had been the sort of prince of Slytherin - the most popular, best looking and certainly the most confident member of the whole house. Hermione had observed him often – always sitting at the head of his table, laughing and mocking those who were weaker, smaller and most vulnerable. Tonight, however, Hermione noticed that he seemed different. Granted, he was still sitting on his designated "throne" at the head of the table, but he was no longer chuckling at Crabbe or Goyle's jokes and cruel insults or allowing Pansy Parkinson to fawn all over him. In fact, Draco looked rather removed from the whole Slytherin scene. He seemed to be unaware of the daring looks he was getting from girls, even those who weren't from Slytherin, and even of the cheering that was going on for those first years who were sorted into his very house. Hermione sighed audibly. Draco Malfoy was harder to figure out than she had anticipated. Yes, he had been different on the train and over the summer (he was definitely different when he kissed her), but Hermione had expected him to fall into his usual self once he was back at school. She eyed him again from across the room. Something was different about him this year. Something had changed, and Hermione was going to find out what.
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Once the feast was over and Ron had eaten enough for two large people, Hermione excused herself, happy for the first time in two years to not have to lead the first years to their dorms and headed for her own head girl room. Secretly, she was grateful to not have to be with Lavender, Parvati and all the other Gryffindor girls. She had never quite fit in with the girls, finding constant makeup and boy-talk to be rather useless. Besides, having her own room would allow her to spend more time on studying for her N.E.W.Ts and it would be easier to avoid Harry and Ginny.
"Yes, easier to avoid Harry and Ginny but not as easy to avoid a certain someone who seems to have you both perplexed and intrigued this year" Her mind interjected. Hermione pushed these thoughts to the back of her head and spoke the password ("Purple Hippogriff") to a portrait of a young witch playing with a unicorn in a green field. The witch giggled and the portrait door swung open into a beautiful common room. Two comfy-looking brown leather couches sat across from each other, both equidistant from a roaring fireplace. On the other side of the room were two large desks with a small cabinet in between which she supposed held drinks and small snacks. Such were the benefits of being head boy or girl. A large Gryffindor banner adorned a solid mahogany door on the right while an identical door was plastered with a Slytherin banner on the left. Hermione took a quick look around.
"Thank god he's not here" She whispered and dragged herself up the stairs on the right, until she finally flopped onto her bed and fell into a deep sleep.
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Hermione awoke with a start, a sour taste in her mouth. She lay on top of her bed, still wearing her robes, which were now clinging to her in a cold sweat. Struggling she found her wand on her nightstand and muttered the spell for light. She couldn't exactly remember the dream. It had been something about the Dark Lord and his re-emergence into the wizarding world. Ever since the battle in the Ministry from 5th year, Hermione, and others who were there that night and especially those close to Harry, had been getting disturbing dreams, or even premonitions about the Dark Lord's plans. Last year Ron had dreamt about Draco's father's arrest and Voldemort's displeasure two days before it happened. Four months earlier Neville had seen death eaters murder an innocent muggle family just south of Kent. 2 weeks later they were dead Hermione inhaled, trying desperately to recall what she had seen in her dream before it faded from memory – every clue was important for the fight against evil. Strangely enough, it had been her and Draco Malfoy. They had been talking in the Astronomy tower, safe from the howling winds and the fierce storm that seemed to be raging outside. It was night and everything was dark. Suddenly however, there had been death eaters. They were there for Draco, and Hermione was trying to defend him. She exhaled loudly. That was all she could remember, at least for now. Tomorrow she would have to tell Dumbledore and the rest of the order about the dream.
She stepped off her bed and peeled off her sweaty robes, walking into her private ensuite bathroom. She showered quickly, brushed her teeth and slipped into a thin cotton nightie, finally feeling refreshed. Judging from the sky outside, it was about 3:00am. Quietly she tiptoed down the stairs leading to the common room. She needed a quick drink before she went back to bed – dreams about Voldemort always seemed to make her mouth parched and her throat dry. She thought about lemonade before opening the fridge and a second later a nice cool pitcher full stood on the first shelf. Suddenly, she felt someone watching her. What if Voldemort was sitting behind her? She turned slowly, cursing herself for not bringing her wand down with her. She turned to find a very tousled-haired and shirtless Draco Malfoy sitting on the couch eating ice cream and watching her.